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Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Sorry its been a while since I last blogged its been a bit manic around here! We are still carless and both been busy with work, begging lifts and then I've come down with the lurgy! Just what I needed! The last couple days I've felt like I got dragged through the hedge backwards, and then run over by a truck!

Anyway I've been trying to take life a little slower the last few days and thought I'd sit and blog for a bit!

Have you seen the new brads in the Spring/Summer Catalgoue? They're builder brads and I love them! So I have a couple cards (using similar materials) for you.

Stamp Set: Curly Cute, Hearts a Flutter

Ink: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake

DSP: Sunshine & Sprinkles

Punch: Itty Bitty

Big Shot: Hearts a Flutter Framelits

Accessories: Designer Build-A-Brad, Paper Doily

Extras: White Gel Pen

Stamp Set: Hearts a Flutter, That's The Ticket

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

DSP: Sunshine & Sprinkles

Punch: Itty Bitty, Ticket

Big Shot: Hearts a Flutter

Accessories: Build-A-Brad, Paper Doilies

Ribbon: Melon Mambo Striped Organdy

So the designer build a brads comprise of the metal scalloped brad backs and some clear domes with adesive backing. You simply punch a little piece of patterned paper and stick it in the centre, add the dome to the top and your brad is finished. The little bit of paper in there means it'll fit pretty much any style card you want! I think they look gorgeous! Do you like them?

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Sorry I didn't get around to blogging yesterday. It was a hectic weekend and yesterday wasn't much better. We sent the car in to the garage, the breaks weren't quite right and it just needed a good general servicing. Well it was MUCH worse than we thought. The head gasket has gone (apparently this is really bad!), the breaks are failing and would need to be replaced, amongst other things we needed doing to the car, so unfortunately he has come to the end of his life! I am gutted, he had lots of little quirks and things that didn't work but he was a good little car, I'm going to miss him lots! So as a result we are now looking for a replacement. Oh the joys!

Anyway enough of misery and woe, here's the item we have been making at class this month!

Cardstock: Crumb Cake

DSP: More Amore

Big Shot: Honeycomb

Accessories: Artisan Embellishments Kit

Everyone got their own embellishment kit to play with, I feel like I used lots of mine here and I was amazed at how much I still had left to use on cards later on! The most time consuming bit of this was embossing the honeycomb pattern and cutting out all the little hexagons to make up this cute patchwork background! Doesn't it look great though?!

Sunday, 17 February 2013

How is your weekend going? I hope you are having a good one! I have my in-laws and a couple friends from church coming for lunch today so I better get my skates on, but first I wanted to show you the last of the cards from this month's card club. T think this might be my favourite. I say might because I love them all so much!

Stamp Set: Fabulous Phrases

Ink: Real Red

Cardstock: Crumb Cake

DSP: More Amore

Accessories: Vintage Faceted Buttons, Paper Doilies

Baker's Twine: Whisper White

Big Shot: Needlepoint Borders

Punch: Corner Rounder

The large heart and the little round scallop circle are both from the More Amore pattern paper - you get 2 of these die cut sheets, they are all joined together but are easily snipped apart. If you don't have a big shot and want the die cut look, this paper is awesome!!! The paper doily, faceted button and needlepoint border finishes off the card. The very final touch is to round the corners, I love rounded corners, don't you?!

I actually didnt have enough of the faceted buttons for all my ladies to add to their cards so we altered it slightly and used the flower trim instead. One of thise sweet little flowers looked just darling as a replacement.

Saturday, 16 February 2013

Saturday already! Wow! Can't believe its the end of half term already, its been so lovely having Stuart home with me this week, I'll be sad to have to send him back off to school next week!

I've got a couple more of the card club cards for you today, both using the Hearts a Flutter stamps and framelits. They're both clean, bright and fresh!

Stamp Set: Hearts a Flutter, Fabulous Phrases

Ink: Pool Party, Raspberry Ripple

Cardstock: Pool Party, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White

Big Shot: Hearts a Flutter framelits, Needlepoint Borders

Accessories: Vintage Faceted Buttons

Baker's Twine: Pool Party

This one is so clean and simple! Little banner and heart finished off with a tiny faceted button. Add the needlepoint border for a little texture and a sentiment and you're done! You could whip up a little batch of these for last minute cards in next to no time!

Stamp Set: Hearts a Flutter, Fabulous Phrases

Ink: Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

Big Shot: Needlepoint Borders, Hearts a Flutter framelits

Accessoires: Rhinestones

We had great fun using the hearts to make our own patterned paper background. Its finished off with a cardstock heart, sentiment and rhinestone. Oh and the little needlepoint border - I am totally loving the needlepoint borders, they really finish off a card!

I'm off to my Mom's this afternoon for a Stampin' Up! party she's hosting. I've got some lovely projects to show her and her friends so stay tuned to see them sometime next week! I know you're going to love them too!

Friday, 15 February 2013

I've got another of the card club cards for you to have a closer look at. Its so simple but just lovely!

Stamp Set: Hearts a Flutter, Apothecary Art

Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso, Pool Party

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Raspberry Ripple

Ribbon: Raspberry Ripple Satin Stitched

Punch: Owl Builder

Big Shot: Hearts a Flutter Framelits

Accessories: Pearls

Its a pretty simple card, I love the trio of hearts and the tiny heart and pearl detail just finish them off so beautifully! The vanilla cardstock is sponged with a little pool party just to add a bit more colour - an effective way to add a little colour without adding more cardstock! Do you like it?

Thursday, 14 February 2013

Aren't they lovely? There's something about hearts that I just love! I like that they can be used for a variety of occassions such as Valentine's, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, or just for a cute card to sent to a friend on their birthday or to let them know you are thinking of them!

Stamp Set: Hearts A Flutter

Ink: Real Red, Pool Party

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Real Red Pool Party

DSP: More Amore

Ribbon: Pool Party Satin (SAB)

Big Shot: Hearts A Flutter Framelits, TIEF

I just love the chevrons in this card, both in the embossed cardstock and in the DSP strip! Isn't the scallop heart pretty?

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

I'm back from my night away with my husband. We didn't go far, only about an hour away to Stratford-on-Avon but it was nice to just get away and spend some quality tie with each other, without work getting in the way. We stayed at a posh country hotel with a swimming pool, jacuzzi sauna, fancy restaurant...the works!! And you know what, I forgot to take a photo of it!! Oh well, we had fun!

The weather has been a bit miserable, when we left Northampton there was quite a lot of snow but as we drove to Stratford it was all disappearing. Part of me was disappointed because I really hoped to get some cool photos of old buildings covered in snow...no such luck. Instead it was just really dull and cold. Today we went for a walk, got about half a mile and realised that we weren't going to get anywhere as the river had seriously flooded - most of the park was covered in water. Pity!

Anyway, on to some creative inspiration for you. Here's another card I made a while ago but didn't get around to showing you and seeing as its Valentine's Day tomorrow I thought it would be the perfect time to show you!

Stamp Set: Love & Laughter

Card Stock: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White

Big Shot: Fashionable Hearts

Embossing: White Emboss Powder

Baker's Twine: Whisper White

Accessories: Rhinestones

Its a very simple card but the simplicity really shows off all the beautiful textured in the different hearts!! Wouldn't this make a stunning Valentines/Engagement/Wedding card for someone?! I am loving this colour combo at the moment, these two pinks are just so yummy!

Right, I'm off to clean and tidy up my messy house before we have 2 of Stu's excitable little cousins over for the afternoon. We're hoping to take them out to the park to kick the ball around and play on the swings but its been so wet, muddy and snowy lately that mario kart on the Wii is our fall back option!!

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Really quick little post for you today. I saw a card like this and just loved it so much that I pretty much copied it but I'm afraid I don't remember where I saw this now so if you are the original creator, thank you and I owe you full credit!

The butterflies on this are using the rock and roll technique - instead of using 2 different colours I inked the stamp, stamped it on scrap paper then rock and rolled it in the same color for a darker edge. Yet another way to stretch your ink pad! You don't quite get the full effect from the photo but you get the idea!

The rest of the card is fairly self explanatory and straight forward so I won't go through all the details with you. My goal is to do shorter blog posts but to post ore regularily, so far, this seems to be working out! What do you think to the change is style? Like short snappy posts as opposed to more chatter?

Monday, 11 February 2013

Monday already? Doesn't the weekend go fast!! Did you all have a good weekend? I had a craft table at a Christian charity sale on Saturday morning and went to see Les Miserables in the afternoon with my parents. It was good, don't get me wrong but, I think everyone had been telling me how amazing and brilliant it was that it didn't meet my expectations. Pity. I didn't even cry...oh well!

On with today's share... This is another card I made quite a while back using the Papillon Potpourri stamp set and just never got around to showing you!

I love all the bright colours here! The way these butterflies are arranged in rows reminds me of those butterfly displays you sometimes find in curiosity houses or stately homes (you know the kind I mean, where they are all pinned to the board and framed).

The wings of the stamped butterflies do stand up a bit but you cant really see it here. Behind each stamped image is a solid punched butterfly for an extra pop of colour. Its very effective, just a pity you can't see it very well here. I also love the use of lots of different embellishments, I have a tendency to get a bit over protective and precious about brads and buttons so to have this many on a card is very special but it works beautifully!

Sunday, 10 February 2013

I'm writing this late Saturday night, the only way to describe the way I feel is completely shattered!! So very very much looking forward to going to sleep and a lie in tomorrow. This post is getting scheduled so you can all enjoy it while I'm still snugly in my bed!

I thought I'd show you a card using one of the new tools in the Spring/Summer catty...another plate for the score board! This one has loads of fancy decorative edges that you can score on your card. Now, if you don't have/can't afford a big shot, this is definitely the way forward to getting embossed designs onto your cards!!

Stamp Set: Oh Hello

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Cardstock: Crumb Cake

DSP: Sycamore Street (SAB)

Simply Scored: Borders Plate

The plate has a lots of cool things on it - you totally get your money's worth and I feel I've hardly grazed the surface with this card!! I'm thinking I'll do a quick little video sometime this week on how to use the new plate, would you all like that??

So this card is super easy and you could do a whole bunch of these with everything you need for £45 and get a free SAB item.

Oh Hello (clear) £17.95

Simply Scored Borders Plate £13.50

Cardstock (Crumb Cake) £6.25

Ink Pad £4.95

Snail Refil £3.75

= £46.40 and get the SAB paper free!!!

Anyway I said this would be short and sweet, tomorrow I'll try and have a bit longer blog post for you! Enjoy!

Saturday, 9 February 2013

What plans have you got this weekend? I'm at a craft sale for a Christian charity this morning. Very excited for it! After that, I am looking forward to kicking back and relaxing for a bit with my dear hubby! He's been working so hard, now its half term, he really deserves a break!

Anyway, my friend needed an emergency wedding card the other day so I offered to whip one up for her and here is it for you to see today!

I just LOVE the More Amore DSP - especially the two die cut sheets with all these hearts on it! So if you don't have a Big Shot but want paper that will make impressive cards, then this is the paper for you!! The heart makes such a sweet background for the birds to sit in. I also didn't want to detract away from the cutie birds with a big punchy sentiment so its just stamped in the bottom corner, it works!

So what do you think, do you like it? I'd love to hear what you think?

I had such fun making these. I love all the different patterns and adore the fact that I could really bring out the chevron pattern from the cupcake case into the background with the embossing folder!

The only real difference between these cards is the first has a little Limeade cardstock in it while the other uses pool party! Both are fun and cost effective ways of finishing off a card nicely though!

Totally love the pattern from the Alehambra wheel - I think it works well with the pattern on the elephant! I also cracked out my sponges again (haven't used them much recently) to give a little colour to the edge of the labels framelit. I also added the paper piercing inside the framelit for another little added detail.

This would be a fun card that would work with any of the stamps in the Patterned Occasions set. Isn't it great when you find a layout that works again and again!?! Less thinking is sometimes the way forward!

I've got a couple more cards with the Patterned Occasions for you tomorrow, so please do come back to see them!

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

I've been meaning to start entering some challenge blogs a little more regularly for a while now. Its great to be stretched or challenged to make a card/project with a certain theme/colour combination etc. So the last few weeks I've half heartedly tried - by that I mean that I thought through, and made something to enter but didn't get it posted in time. This week I am more on the ball and I have made a card, and I am posting in time too - woo hoo!

So, sympathy cards aren't the most fun cards to make, because they come with a sad occasion! It just happened however that I needed to make one for the death of a dear friend and its coincided perfectly with this challenge.

Stamp Set: Thoughts & Prayers

Ink: Old Olive, Lucky Limeade, Gumball Green, Soft Suede

Cardstock: Whisper White, Gumball Green, Lucky Limeade, Rose Red

Punch: Itty Bitty, Corner Rounder

Big Shot: Woodgrain TIEF

Accessories: Dazzling Details

Sympathy cards are difficult, not only because of the sad occasion but also because you want it to be nice but not too over the top and fancy! Hopefully this hit the spot. The tree was coloured with markers - the leaves randomly coloured with 3 different greens for some variety and difference. I really like how its turned out, the flowers just add the last little touch.

Its for the children of the man who was our cook and shopper when we lived in Pakistan. He and his wife were both so lovely and hard working. It was so sad to hear of his passing. So this tree with the pink flowers, reminds me somewhat of the bougainvillea that grew everywhere out there!

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

How are you this morning? I hope you're well, there's so much illness going around this winter - seems like everyone is really suffering. I'm very thankful that so far I've avoided catching any bugs. For those that are unwell its always nice to receive a get well card, isn't it. The Sale-A-Bration set Patterned Occasions has a stamp just perfect for such an occasion.

Monday, 4 February 2013

So I totally meant to blog a bit over the weekend, but as you might have been able to tell, that didn't happen! It was nice however to have a little more relaxed weekend, even if I did spend much of it in bed nursing headaches.

So the new Spring/Summer Catalogue released on February 1st! How exciting! Have you seen it yet? Oh my, there are so very many gorgeous things in there - so, so hard to choose what to get - so yeah I probably got too much. Much more than I was intending but hey, it was all so pretty! (I think I'm a complete magpie for paper and stamps!)

I have a heart themed card for you today, I actually made this one a few weeks ago for a challenge on another blog and I forgot to photo and post it in time - this seems to be the story of my life!

There's window sheet covering the hole in the white cardstock and a ton of hearts (from the owl punch) underneath. The depth behind the window is made up using the long edge strip from the dimensionals all the way around all four sides - seals everything in and gives the depth for the hearts to flutter down!

Wouldn't it be fun to stick other thing in a window like this too?! What about sparkly glitter!?! :D

about me

I have been an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for three years! I love sharing my passion with others! Its one of the best things I've ever done, only regret is that I didn't do it sooner! If you're interested in hosting, earning free goodies, or joining my team please shoot me a message! Have a browse and leave me a comment - it makes my day to know I've made someone somewhere smile!